Spring seat structure for automobiles



July 8, 1941. J, KRoNHExM Erm.. 2,248,093

' SPRING SEAT STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 24, 1938 4 Sheets--Shee l INVENTOR. JHCH KRONHE/M BY WILL/lm H. NEE/.Y

July 8, 1941. J. KRONHEIM :TAL

SPRING ySEAT STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 24, 1938 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 e A e I 45 .mana KRa/w/sm BY w/LL/nn H- NEL-LY INVENT OR.

July 8, 1941-. 1 KRQNHElM ETAL 2,248,093

SPRING SEAT STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M Q ATT NEY July 8, 1941- J. KRoNHExM ETAL 2,248,093

SPRING SEAT STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 24, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JHFB KRNHE/N WILL/HN HNEE'LY n Q. AmORNY.

Patented July 8, 1941 SEAT STRUCTURE Foa l AUTOMOBILES t Jacob Kronheim, Cleveland Heights, and William H. Neely, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnors. by direct and mesne assignments, to John C. Lincoln,

Scottsdale, Ariz.

application June 24, 193s, serial No. 215,52

32 Claims.

This invention lrelates .in general to springs and spring seat structures for upholstered furniture and more particularly to unitary spring seat structures specifically adapted to be used in moving vehicles, such as automobiles, railroad cars, etc. Spring seat structures of this type generally embody a combined seat and back frame and box-like spring assemblies of helical springs removably supported by the frame or rigidly se-. cured with their bottom portions to the frame.

In all these constructions the top portions of the box-like spring assemblies extend a substantial distance above the'l frame, therefore these constructions have the tendency to sway when vehicles equipped with this type of seat construction travel through curves. structions of the described type rebound vertical- In addition, con-vV 1y and often interfere with proper operation of a moving vehicle when driven over a bumpy road.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a spring seat structure which eliminates undesirable swaying and vertical rebounding actions by the use-of interconnected corrugated specific wire springs, each of which has its opposite ends rigidly secured to a frame and each of which consists of a substantially straight seating or resting portion, an integral rearwardly and downwardly inclined supporting front arm and an integral coiled portion at the rear end of the seating portion.

Another object of the present invention is -to provide a spring seat structure embodying a tubular unitary frame having a seat portion and a back portion, and a plurality of elongated wire springs with corrugatedseating portions, which springs bridge said seat and back portions, and include means for rigidly attaching the springs to the tubular frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automobile seat structure embodying a tubular frame with seat and back portions, which frame mounts a plurality of elongated Wire springs bridging said frame, each of the springs being at its opposite ends secured to the frame and, in additiomthe outer springs in the seat portion supporting and being interlocked with specific lateral extensions effecting a stiffening of these springs and permitting of the spring assembly being shaped in any desired manner at its side edges.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an automobile seat structure embodying a frame with seat and back portions and a plurality of elongated corrugated wire springs symmetrically arranged cross'wise of the seat and back portions of the frame, whichsprings each include end coils contacting said frame and are formed with attachment means laterally offset with respect to the axis of the spring to effect proper mounting of the spring in the frame and contact of their end coils with the frame in alignment with the axes of said springs.

Astill further object of the invention is the provision of an automobile seat structure embodying a frame with seat and back portions, a plurality of elongated corrugated wire springs oi specific construction bridging the seat and back portions of the frame' and forming seat and back spring assemblies therewith, and combinedcovering and padding means sleeved upon the spring assemblies andn jointly secured thereto.

In addition, the invention has other marked improvements andl superiorities which radically distinguish it from presently known structures. These improvements or superior characteristics embodying certain novel features of construction are clearly set forth in the appended claims, and Y a preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an automobile seat structure according to the invention, showing the frame structure. and spring assembly, vwhen the padded covering isremoved.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the spring assembly in the seating portion of the seat structure. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the spring assembly of the backl portion, of the seat structure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame structure without the springs.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the used in the seat structure.

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of one of the corrugated 'extension members used at opposite ends of the seating portion of the seat structure.

Fig. '1 is a view of one of the tensioning spring members used in the seating and back portions of the spring assemblies of the seat structure.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section showing interlocking of a left-handed and a right-handed spring with the front rail of the frame structure.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through an automobile seat structure-according to the insprings vention fully assembled and covered with padded covering.

Fig. 10 .is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the finished seat covering before its attachment to the seat portion of the seat structure.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View partly broken away of the finished back covering before its attachment to theback portion ofthe seat structure. v

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the fastening of the padded covering of the seating and back structure to ,the

I hook-shaped rear ends of the springs"mounted` in the seating portion; and f Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary ,sectional` view showing the fastening of the padded covering of the seating portion to the hook-shaped front ends of the springs mounted in the seating portion.

Referring now in detail to the exemplified form of the seat structure shown in the draw-` ings, reference numeral 2 indicates a tubular frame structure embodying a seat frame portion 3 and a back frame portion 4. Seat frame portion 3, a substantially rectangularly shaped open frame structure, is made of tubular piping' and hasv yits side rails 5, 5' bent upwardly, so that the rearrail 6 is in elevated position with respect to a plane through the front rail 1 and the front portions of side rails, 6', an arrangement permitting ample space for a yielding actiony of elongated corrugated wire springs '8, which springs bridge theframe portion 3 crosswise and in a manner hereinafter to be described. i

Springs 6 are made of steel wire, bent to sinuous shape, so that their loops 9- extend `substantially parallel to each other and permit longitudinal yielding stretching of the springs under load. The front end of each spring is formed with an integral, rearwardly and downwardly'extended supporting arm I0, which is looped at its` lower end to provide a spring coil I I arranged in a plane substantially rectangular to the plane of the spring. The end of coil. II extends straight forward as at I2 from the bottom of said. coil and is then looped in opposite direction with respect to coil II to form a second coil I4, which which is extended from the top of the coil rear; wardly and laterally at an acute angle lwith respect to the axis of the spring and which is doubled-back in definite spaced relation with respect to said coil in a manner similar to the end portion I5 of coil I4. This construction forms a hook-shaped means 2| at the rear end of the spring and permits of said rear end being rigidly secured to the perforated rear rail 6 in a manner similar kto the previously describedv coupling between hook-shaped means I6 and frontrail 1. Further description of such coupling is therefore deemed tobe superuous.

' are secured to the front and rear rails 1 and 6y The'frame portion 3 is bridged by van even number of springs 8, which springs are symmetrically distributed over the frame and hingedly coupled with each other by V-shaped wire hooks 23. In addition, the springs 8 are constructed.

as left-handed and right-handed springs. Thus thehook-shaped means I6 and 2| of the springs arranged in the left half of the frame portion arelaterally offset to one side and the' hookshaped meansof the springs arranged in the right frame portion` are laterally offset to the opposite side, so as to effect proper balance of the assembled spring structure. The two center springs v24 and 25' of the assembled spring structure are coupled with each other by means of 'a plurality of yielding flat spring members 26, each of which is made of spring steel wire bent to substantially triangular shape. These spring members are each provided at their top with a coil 21 and coil is downwardly extended from straight porl tion I2 in ia plane also substantially rectangular to the plane of the spring.4 The coil yI4 hasa free straight end portion I5 which is extended from the top of the coil forwardly and `laterally at an acute angle with respect tothe axisof the spring, and this portion I5 is doubled back in definite spaced relation with respect to said coil to form a hook-shaped means I6 adapted'to rigidly secure the spring to front rail 1, as willbe later described. The double-back portion I1 extends substantially straight backward slightly beyond coil I4 to facilitate passing of said portion through holes I3 in the front rail 1 and proper fastening of a covering, as `will be later described.

Straight portion I5 is dimensioned to effect yield` ing contact of coil I4 with front rail 1 when` doubled-back portion I1 is fully extended into and partly through holes I8 and the spring has been tilted upwardly so that coil I4 is rectangu` latter coil has a straight free end portion 20,

their base is formed by overlapping straight portions 28, the ends 29 of `which are -bent to hooks 30. These hooks 30 are engaged with the loops 9 of the springs and consequently spring members 26 draw the hingedly connected springs of the le'ft frame portion and the springs of the right frame portion yieldingly toward" each other. In

addition, spring members 26 serve to support the padded covering between springs 24 and 25.

The outer springs 3| and 32 of the thus formed v seat spring assembly each support and are coupled with elongated lateral extension members 33 made of spring st eel wire. Each of these members is formed by bending a wire to alternately changing leftand right-handed loops 34, 35 of substantially rectangular outline, which loops, as shown, decrease in depth toward the front portion of the member 33 to effect an inward slant of 'the side edge of the assembled spring structure. The loops 35, arranged adjacent to springs 3| and x32, are seized to permit of said `loops being readily hooked over and engaged with each second loop 9 of the springs 3|, 32, a connection which prohibits pivotal downward movement of said extension members with respect tosaid springs. Preferably, as shown, the loops 35 have in their parallel sides 36, 3,6 struckup portions 31 which form recessed seats 31' for the wire of springs 3|, 32 and thus eifect proper positioning of extension members33 with respect to said springs and alignment ofthe surface of members 33 with the seating surfaces of springs 3|, 32. Each member 33 includes at its front end an integral curved wire extension 38 coupled with the front loops of springs 3|, 32 respectively and with the front loops of springs 6 adjacent to springs 3| A32, the clips 39 being used for this purpose. The rear portion of each member 33 is attached to an edge wire 4| coupled with members 33 and the front coils;of lthe springs by means of clips 42. Back frame portion 4 of frame structure 2 includes two symmetrically arranged tubular upright posts 43, each of which has its lower end angularly bent to provide forwardly extended supporting arms 44 adapted to supportthe seat structure by customary adjustment and supporting means (not shown) which readily Imay b e connected to said arms. The upright posts 43 are rigidly secured to the rear rail 8 ofthe seat frame 3 by means of U-shaped brackets 45 and the forwardly extended supporting, arms 44 of said posts are rigidly attached to the front rail 1 of frame 3. Bracket members 45, which preferably are welded to the rear rail 6, have arranged in their flanges 46 round holes 41 for the posts 43. A tubular top rail 48,l which is mounted' on the upper ends of posts 43, has its ends secured to 4side rails 48. These side rails which are attached to the side rails 5, 5' of therseat frame portion embody curved rearwardly and laterally extended end portions 58 to bring said side rails into alignment with the top rail 48.

The described back seat frame has substantially U-shaped outline formed by sidle rails 49 and top rail 48 and its open bottom portion is closed by-an individual bottom rail 5l. This rail is mounted on upright posts 43 a short distance above the rear rail 1 of the seat frame 3 and thus provides Ya, space or slot 52 between said two rails to be used for a purpose later to be described.

' Bottom rail 5I is attached to the upright posts 43 in a manner similar to the described connection between rear rail 1 and the posts 43 by brackets 53, which brackets are of similar construction as the bracket members 4 5 previously described.

Back seat Aframe 4 is bridged by a plurality of elongated corrugated springs 54, which springs are preferably arranged in alignment with the springs 8 of the seat frame portion. Springs 54' which are substantially of the same construction as springs 8 previously described but preferably made of different gage wire, are rigidly secured to the top and bottom rails 48 and 5I by means of hook-shaped ends 55, 55' and hingedly connected with each other by V-shaped wire hooks 58, which-interconnect the springs 54 to a unitary spring structure. The spring structure are yieldingly connected with side rails by means of triangularly shaped atspring members 58, which members are constructed similar to the spring members 28, therefore further description f member A58 isv deemed to be superfluous.

bers 58vpartly controls the yielding action of the spring structure and thus permits of such yielding action being readily and easily controlled by a plurality of tensionvmembers 58 which differentiate in tension.

It should be noted that springs 54 are secured to the top rail 48 ofthe back seat frame in such a way that their substantially straight resting portions 58 extend forwardly ofthe back seat frameand that springs 54 must be downwardly bent and longitudinally stretched before these springs can be attached to the bottom rail 5| of the said back seat frame. ,This arrangement per--v mits of the springs 54 being'shaped to a form embodying a curved portion 58 at their top ends and substantially straight portions 8l at their lower portions. The described differential shape of springs 54 and the spring back structure formed thereby is more readily obtained with a proper tension of the individual spring members 58, therefore substantial consideration must be given to the tension of these spring members.

end springs 51, 51' of this The assembled unitary spring seat structure is covered with padded coverings, there being a padded covering 62 for the seat lportion and a padded, covering 63 for the back portion. Padded covering 52 embodies'a padded seat portion 84, the padding material 85 of lwhich is arranged between a c over and a lining 81, and such padding material is sewn to said cover and lining by seams 68. Seat portion 84 has attached to its front and side edges .a side covering 88 and to its rear edge a fastening strip 18, which latter strip is preferably formed by extending lining B1 rearwardly. In assembly proceedings the padded covering 82 isplaced on the seat portion of the spring structure and strip 10 is rearwardly extended through slot 52 between rear rail 1 and bottom rail 5I and then the ends of the frontv and side coverings are carried around front and side rails 8 and 5, 5' and, atthe front, hooked over the rearwardly extended doubled-back portions l1 of hook-shaped means I8 on springs 8. To facilitate these operations a wire 1l is secured to the ends. of the front coveringwhich can more readily be hooked over doubled back portion i1.

and affords a better tension over the entire length of the covering. The ends of the sidecovering' front portion 12 sewn to the top and side edgesof said front portion so as to provide a bag-like covering, the front portion of which is padded .with a padding material 14 arranged between and sewn to a cover 15 andits lining 16. In assembly proceedings this covering 63 is pulled over the back portion of the spring structure and thnwthe lower end of its front portion 12 is rearwardly extended through slot 52. As stated above, strip 15 j of covering 62 has been previously extended through the slot 52 and now both, strip lil and the free end of front portion 12 are jointly carried around rear rail 6, and' fastened by hooking their ends over the extended hook-shaped portions 2| of springs 8, straight wires 11 and 18 secured to the ends of the strip 18 and front portion 12 being used to facilitate their fastening. 'Ihe assembly proceedings are finally finished by carry? ing the end of the back portion 13 around the rear rail 8 and fastening said end to hook-shaped 'I'he tension of spring memportions 30 in the same manner, a wire 19 being used for this purpose.

It is to be understood that, while we have herein described and illustrated one preferred form of 'our invention, the invention is not'and should not be limited to the precise construction described above but includes within its scope whatever changes fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims. I

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a seat structure a tubular frame having pairs of perforations in its wall, a plurality of elongated wire springs bridging said frame, coils at the opposite ends of each of said springs arranged substantially rectangular to the axis thereof and hook-shaped means on the ends of said coils rearwardly extended therefrom and spaced a definite distance from said coils,` each hook-shaped means having its free end portion its hook-shaped means'from dislodging from said pair of perforations.

said coils. saidhook-shaped means having their 'bent portions spaced a deilnite distance from said coils for yielding vloclring action of said coils when said hook-shaped means are secured to the Iopposite rails of a frame structure.

3. In a seat structure a frame comprising a' i substantially rectangular seat frame having front,

springs with each other to form a substantially unitary surface, and yielding tensioning means between the opposite sides of said surface and the said side rails.

8.1An automobile seat structure such as described in claim 7, wherein the upper ends of saidsprings and the ends of said V-shaped sup- -porting arms are provided with means for' ref v leasably attaching said spring to the top and botback and side rails, the side rails being bent upwardly near their rear ends, a U-.shaped back frame having its sides secured to said siderails and bent at their upper portions on sweeping curves backwardly and inwardly' to set the top portion of said U-shaped frame backward withl respect to said sides, symmetrically arranged supporting posts for said U-shaped back frame secured to the upwardly bent part of said seat frame and provided with forwardly extended arms secured to the front rail of said seat frame, and

a tubular member secured vto said supporting posts in slightly spaced relation above the rear rails of said seat frame.I v 4. A seat structure as described in claim 3,

-wherein the front-and rear rails of said seat frame, the top of said U-shaped back frame and the tubular 'member secured to 'said supporting posts are provided with perforations, and wherein'corrugated wire Asprings are rigidly secured at their opposite ends to said-rails and back frame tom rails and mounting said springs on three -point supports on said frame.

9. An automobile seat structure such l as described in claim 7, wherein the upper endsof said fnsprings and the ends of said V-shaped supportingarms each are provided with a coil and a hook-shaped means extending from said coil and laterally oiset with respect to the axis of therespective spring for removably attaching said Q springs-to said frame and mounting said springs plurality of elongated, corrugated Wire springs secured to said top and bottom rails, means hingedly interconnecting said springs with each other to form a substantially unitary surface.-

and tensioning means ringedly connected with the -springs at the opposite sidesv of said surface and hingedly connected with the said vsiderails. 6. In an automobile seat structure a back frame embodying a. Ushaped portion forming thel top and side rails of said frame and a bottom .rail mounted independently of said side rails in rearwardly offset relation with respect thereto, a

plurality of elongated, corrugated wire springs bridging said frame in a plane through said side rails, meanshingedly interconnecting said springs with each other to form a substantially unitary 1 surface and yielding tensioning means between the opposite sides of said surface and the said side rails. l

'7. In an automobile seat structure a back frame embodying a U-shaped portion forming 'the top and side rails of said frame and a bottom rail mounted independently of said side rails-in rearwardly-offset relation withrespect thereto, a plurality ofrelongated, corrugated wire springs em`- bodying V-shaped supportingarms at'their lower end secured to said. top rail and"having their supporting arms secure-d to the bottom rail, so as to bridge said frame in a plane through said on three point supports on said frame.

10. In an automobile seat structure a back frame embodying a U-shaped portionrforming the top and side rails of said frame and a bottom. rail arranged substantially parallel to said top rail and rearwardly offset with respect to said side` rails, a plurality of elongated, corrugated wire springs secured to said top and bottom rails. V--shaped wire hookmembers hingedly interconnecting said springs with each other to form a substantially unitary surface, and flat spring means of substantially triangular shape between the opposite-sides of said surface and the said side rails.

1l. In an automobile seat structure a back, frame embodying a U-shaped portion formingl the top and side rails of siad frame and a bottom rail arranged substantially parallel to the top rail and rearwardly' offset with respect to said side rails,a plurality of elongated, corrugated'wire springs secured to said top and bottom rails, means hingedly interconnecting said springs with each other tov form a substantially unitary surface, and a plurality of individual tensioning means connecting said side rails Awith the springs at the side of said unitary surface, said tensioning means having diierent elasticities to give said unitary surface the desired shape and yielding resistance. I

12. In a seat structure a frame, a plurality of elongated wire springs bridging said frame, means on the ends yof said springs for securing-saidv springs to said frame and a covering for said wire springs, said means including end portions yprotruding through said frame and said covering being fastened to theprotruding ends of said means. v

13. In a seat structure a frame having front, rear and side rails, a plurality of elongated wire springs bridging said frame, hook-shaped means on the ends of said 'springs for securing said springs to the front and rear rails of said frameand a covering for said wire springs, said hookshaped means having their ends inwardly extendf ed into said frame beyond said rails and said covering being fastened to the extended endsof said hook-shaped means 14. In an automobile seat structure ay tubular frame having perforations in its rails, elongated. corrugated wire springs bridging said frame, hook-shaped means-on the ends of said springs for securingsaid springs vby means of said `perside rails. means hingedly interconnecting said forations to said frame, and a covering for saidv wire springs, said hook-shaped means having their yends protruding through said perforations and said covering being'fastened to the protruding ends of said hook-shaped means.

15. In an automobile seat structure a frame having perforations in its rails, elongated, corrugated wire springs bridging said frame, hookshaped means on the ends of said springs for securing said springs by means of said perforations to said frame, and a covering for said springs, said hook-shaped means having their ends protruding through said perforations and said covering having means attached to its edge for securing said edge to the protruding ends of hook-shaped means on the ends of all oflsaid` springs, a covering for the seat frame having its rear end extended through the slot between said rear rail and bottom rail, and a sleeve-like covering for the back frame having its lower front edge extended through said slot, said rear end of said seat covering and the lower front and rear edges of said back frame covering being carried around said rear rail and secured t0 the hookshaped ends at the rear of said wire springs bridging said seat frame.

1 7. An automobile seat structure as described in claim 16, wherein the rear rail of said seat frame is perforated, wherein each hook-shaped means on the rear ends, ofthe springs for the seat frame includes an elongated straight end protruded through the perforations of said rail and wherein means are provided on the rear end of said covering for the seat frame and said lower ends vof said sleeve-like covering for the back frame adapted to be hooked over the said protruding straight ends for interlocking engagement of said coverings with the said straight ends of said hook-shaped means.

18. In an automobile seat a frame having'l front and rear rails, elongated, corrugated wire springs bridging said frame, and yielding attachment and supporting means on said springs partly surrounding and yieldingly gripping said rality of elongated wire frame, and hook-shaped means integrally extended rrom the ends of said springs and removably securing said springs to said rails, said hook-shaped/means including laterally inclined top portions and vertically spaced straight lower portions laterally inclined with respect to said top portions, said top portions resting on said frame in inclined relation with respect to the axes of its rails and said straight lower portions being each threaded 'through one pair of perforations to eiIect support of the hook-shaped means in planes inclined with respect to the axes of said rails.

2l. In a seat structure a frame, a plurality of horizontally corrugated wire springs arranged side by side crosswise of said frame, means on said springs and frame for attaching said springs to said frame, means interconnecting said springs to form a seating surface, and horizontally looped -means sleeved upon and interengaged with the loops of the end springs of said seating surface, said looped means extending in the plane oi the loops of said corrugated springs and effecting` stiiiening and widening of said end springs.

22. In a seat structure a frame, a plurality o! elongated springs havingcorrugated seating portions, means on the ends of said springs and on said frame for connecting said springs to said frame, means hingediy connecting the corrugated seating portions of said springs to form a seating surface, and horizontally corrugated means having their loops sleeved upon loops of the corrugated portions of the end springs of said seating surface to support said looped means by the loops of said end springs in the plane of the seating surface, saidcorrugated means effecting stiffening and widening of the seating portions oi said end springs.

23. In `a seat structure. embodying a frame and a plurality o! wire springs bridgedv across the frame and mounted thereon, stiffening lateral extension means for I the outer ones of said springs, said means being coupled with the sides of the outer springs -of said seat structure and having their end portions directly clamped to the loops of the front portions' of the said, outer springs of the seat structure, and a U-shaped springs of said seat structure and to said stiiening and extension means.

front and rear rails for releasably supporting said springs thereupon, sa'id yielding attachment and supporting means each including a coil rectangularly related to and yieldingly contacting the inner wall of the respective rail.

19. In a seat structure 'a frame embodying front and rear rails, a plurality of elongated wire springs bridging said frame in elevated position with respect thereto, and 'hook-shaped means at the ends of saidsprings securing same to the front and rear rails of said frame, said rails including means cooperating with said hookshaped means in securing same to said rails, and each hook-shaped means including a laterally inclined upper portion arranged to rest on a rail in inclined relation with respect to its axis and a lower vportion cooperating with the means on said rail in securing said hook-shaped means to said rail, said lower portion being rectangularly related to said rail.

20.' In a seat structure a tubular frame having front and rear rails provided with pairs of aligned perforations arranged in planes rectan- 24. A seat structurel embodying a frame, and a plurality of wire springs bridged across said frame Y and mounted thereon, said wire springs being provided with corrugated seating portions and rearwardly and downwardly extended front supporting arms adapted to support said seating portions in elevated position and'stretch said seating portions when under load, and corrugated wire means having their loops hooked over the loops of the seating portions of the outer springs of said seat structure to stiien said outer springs and give the seating surface the desired shape.

25. A wire spring for seat structures compris- .ing a horizontally corrugated seating portion, a

rearwardly and downwardly extending yielding lever arm integrally extended from the front end of said seating portion, a coil integrally extending from the rear end of said seating portion, and hook-shaped means extended from the end of said lever arm and from said coil, said hookshaped means including laterally inclined top portions, and straight lower portions laterally inclined with respect to said top' portions, and

6 said top and lower portions beingv spaced from eac.: other definite distances to effect support of .said hookshaped means on their top and bottom portions when said spring is mounted on a frame.

26. In a seat structure a wire spring having.

said back trame embodying a U-shaped portion forming the top and side rails kof said frame, a bottom rail for said back frame arranged subvstantially parallel tofsaid top rail in rearwardly odset-,position with respect to Asaid side rails, means rigidly connecting said bottom rail to said seat frame, a plurality of elongated, corrugated wire .springs secured to said top andbottom rails;

' means hingedly interconnecting said springs with each other to form a substantially unitary surface, and tensioning means hingedly connected 'e with the springs atl the opposite sides of said surface and hingedly connected with the said side sleeved over one of .the loops of the seating por.-

tion so as to engage the bottom face of said one loop and the top face of loops adjoining said one loop for limiting tilting movement of said wire structure with respect to said seating portion.

27. In a seat structure a wire spring having a horizontally corrugated seating portion with leftand right-handed open loops, andmeans -Ior stiffening and widening the sides of said sea :ing portion of said spring,- said vmeans ernbodying a horizontally corrugated wire structure with-leftand right-handed open'loops having n struck up portions in their sid'e arms, each loop of said wire structure being sleeved over one of the loops oi.' the corrugated seating portion of the wire spring to engage the bottom face of the side arms of said loop and the top faces of loops adjoining said one loop for limiting movement of said wire structure with respect to said sea :ing portion andlaterally extending the seating surface of the spring, the struck, up portions of :said wire structure engaging the wire of said wire spring to effect alignment of the top faces of said wire spring and wire structure.

28. In an automobile seat structure a seat frame, a back frame having a top rail and side rails, forwardly and downwardly extended'from i.

said top rail and connected to said seat frame, a bottom rail for said back frame arranged in rearwardlyoifset position with respect to said side rails, means rigidly connectingv said bottom rail to said seat frame, a plurality foi' elongated, corrugated wire springs secured to the top and bottom rails, means hingedly interconnecting said springs with each other to form a substantially unitary surface, and tensioning means hingedly connected with the springs at the opposite sides of said surface and hingedly connected `with the forwardly extended side rails.

29. In an automobile seat structure a seat frame, a back frame secured to said seat frame,

rails. A

30. In a seat structure av frame comprising an open tubular seat frame having front, back and side rails, the-side rails being bent upwardly near the` rear ends thereof, a U-shaped back frame having its sides secured to the side rails of said seat frame, symmetrically arranged supporting posts secured to the front and back rails o'f said seat frame, and a tubular rmember forming the bottom rail of the back frame and secured toand supportedl by said supporting posts inslightly spaced relation above the rear rail of said seat frame.

31. In a seat structure an open frame having I front and rear rails, a plurality of elongated wire springs bridging said frame and `secured to its rails, means on the. ends of said springs securing said springs to said railsj'said means including portions extended beyond the inner faces of said rails, and a covering for said wire springs including means carried around said rails and attached to the extended portions of said springs.

32. The combination of an velongated wire spring having at one end an integral coil and an integral hook-shaped attachment means extending from said coil and provided. with a straight end laterally offset with respect to said coil, with an elongated,rectangularly perforated support ing member mounting said spring, the straight` end of said attachment means being laterally offset with respect to 'said coil to permit of said end being threaded into the perforation of said attachment means when said spring isslightly rotated, and said attachment jmeans being spaced from said coil a definite distance to eiTect yielding locking of said attachment means by said coil when said attachment means is secured to said supporting member'l JACOB KRONHEIM.

WILLIAM H. NEELY. n 

